Just to say like your video. This was the exact meter I built and used from DeVry Home Course I took over 50 years ago. Brings back memories but now at 70 years old I sure don't remember where it went. ........73
Great information, I got one of these from a garage sale, everything worked, except +DC. Found pot bad on that. The unit looks very clean. If you want it, I will send it to you.
Nice to see some of the DeVry equipment on your channel. I went to colege in Columbus, Ohio in 1980 there. It was called Ohio Institute of Technology then.
Wow! You are the first person I've watched on youtube or in life really that use that trick with screws. My Dad taught that when I was 11 yo and I done that procedure for 59 years and never stripped a screw.
I really liked your video and posted links to it on two of the basic electronics groups that I regularly work with on Facebook; along with the suggestion that the beginners watch it. I also recommended your $10 Buck Test Bench series as being well worth watching... That being said: You spent a lot of time talking about how easily a meter could be destroyed on it's current measurement ranges. Because of that I was surprised you didn't cover the simple meter protection circuit using shunt diodes and an in-line fuse...
Hello and thanks for the kind words Dennis. The issue with these early meters and the kits that a lot of them were made from is that there are NO protection diodes and NO fuses. They could be added but young players buying these things at a flea market are highly unlikely to make the mods. It is just good practice to assume you will destroy the meter if you are not careful and develop good habits from the start. ( we all screw up ) The digital meters DO have fuses but you cannot believe how many meters I have found with the 1/8 amp fuses replaced with something like a 20 amp because it was at hand, and guess what happens to the shunts. But that being said it would be a good idea to suggest they think about adding fuses. One last thought though, low current fuses can be several ohms which would require replacing the shunts to accommodate the difference. Even in digital meters like modern Fluke VOM's, the fuses can cause all kinds of problems if the original factory fuse is not put in. Using a common off the shelf meter fuse of the same current rating can leave the meter out of spec. Even if it is a "meter fuse". EEV Blog actually did a couple of videos about the issues with Fuses in voltmeters. He shows that meter fuses vary greatly in resistance. While Dave's voice gets to some folks, he has a lot of good info in some of his videos. Thanks for watching and thanks for the insightful comments. Love this kind of feedback. Keeps me on my toes. Vern
Greetings: I did not hear specifically, but I believe that you wanted this meter to be a part of the education for a young newbie technician. Being a retired service tech myself, I do remember the slow exposure to electronics I had. I think I will find VTVM that needs a good home. (Don't mind if I add a digital display to it. I want the high tube impedance.)
Just got one of these today. Batteries were missing. My question is where does the negative of the 3 D cells connect to? I have the blue and white leads there for the C cell and an extra white lead . The positive lead on mine is yellow going to the battery pot. Is the extra white lead on the bottom for the D cell negative? Thanks.
you should make a video on the tools that ya use /need to have to start with when it comes to working in the electronics field, i was an auto body man / painter for about 14 or 15 years (im only 32 now, so its about all i know)and found out a few years ago ive got chrones desease and have totally had to give it up, and im about to get rid of some of my tools,and trying to figure out what to sell and what to keep, and what i should consider on buying
Hi Matt, thanks for watching. I did mention in one of the voltmeter videos that the main and most important tool in the electronics tech's tool bag is the voltmeter. This is why we started with voltmeters. Next would be a soldering iron, but I have covered that a while back. When I have all the gear up and working I can do a video simply outlining what is important in priority. I have not focused on scopes because most work can be done without them and they are more expensive than most instruments. ( not much more but kids have a limited budget.) Time is my big issue. My day starts at 5 and ends at 6 ( drive to work, work, drive home ) come home, eat, and now it's 7 pm and I start making videos. One video can take two evenings. Even a 10 minute video can take 2 hours to set up, edit, publish. So time is a big issue. Meanwhile I am fixing all the gear in the background. What you see on the video is the brief edit of the work. However I think your idea is a good one and will be added in at some point. Thanks for taking the time to offer some feed back. It helps my thought process to get ideas from the viewers.
Enjoyed the video. That meter was an excellent find. I have one criticism though: using E in your formula the way we did in the 1960’s might be confusing because the kids and newer books on basic electronics just use V. So instead of E=IR, V=IR.
I think it's great that you're interested in helping out the young ones. I'd be happy to do that near where I live, but not sure about how to find them. (I've done tutoring and mentoring in many school subjects for years and used to give training classes at work.) Ever considered doing an Electronics For Kids channel? Short and sweet, one idea at a time.
Thanks for watching and the nice comments. Wish I had found someone at 14 to show me a few tricks. Had to figure them out one painful lesson at a time. And yes, have been thinking about short/sweet clips. First wanted to get the bench set up and show the young players that useful test gear is actually within reach with a little 'shopping". Have some Ideas for when the gear is all fixed and on the bench. ( I have a real bench but want to prove the flea market items will actually do the job ) Working on getting the transistor radio in breadboard configuration. This way I can do short videos on how the sections work and experiments within the circuit. Thanks Again.
Hi Don, Just getting around to catching up on comments. Sorry for the Delay. Looking at the back the top pot is Battery Cal. Put the meter in Battery and set the pot so the needle falls in the center of the little green line. Bottom row left to right +DC, -DC, AC, UA
Nice find and an excellent video! Is the DeVry meter essentially a solid state version of a high impedance VTVM (with added current reading capability)?
Another great video...seemingly simple but lots of info if you listen for it.
I hope the nice young man got this device. Thanks!
Just to say like your video. This was the exact meter I built and used from DeVry Home Course I took over 50 years ago. Brings back memories but now at 70 years old I sure don't remember where it went. ........73
Might be this one. Came from the Near-Fest Ham Flea and I think the guy had Canadian registration.
Great information, I got one of these from a garage sale, everything worked, except +DC. Found pot bad on that. The unit looks very clean. If you want it, I will send it to you.
Nice to see some of the DeVry equipment on your channel. I went to colege in Columbus, Ohio in 1980 there. It was called Ohio Institute of Technology then.
Wow! You are the first person I've watched on youtube or in life really that use that trick with screws. My Dad taught that when I was 11 yo and I done that procedure for 59 years and never stripped a screw.
Figured that trick out when I was around 15. Learned the hard way.
Great video and kudos for offering a piece of test equipment to a young person interested in electronics. Nice meter too.
I'm a sucker for voltmeters. Seems like every time I see one I buy it......it's a sickness. Thanks for watching.
I really liked your video and posted links to it on two of the basic electronics groups that I regularly work with on Facebook; along with the suggestion that the beginners watch it.
I also recommended your $10 Buck Test Bench series as being well worth watching...
That being said:
You spent a lot of time talking about how easily a meter could be destroyed on it's current measurement ranges.
Because of that I was surprised you didn't cover the simple meter protection circuit using shunt diodes and an in-line fuse...
Hello and thanks for the kind words Dennis. The issue with these early meters and the kits that a lot of them were made from is that there are NO protection diodes and NO fuses. They could be added but young players buying these things at a flea market are highly unlikely to make the mods. It is just good practice to assume you will destroy the meter if you are not careful and develop good habits from the start. ( we all screw up ) The digital meters DO have fuses but you cannot believe how many meters I have found with the 1/8 amp fuses replaced with something like a 20 amp because it was at hand, and guess what happens to the shunts. But that being said it would be a good idea to suggest they think about adding fuses. One last thought though, low current fuses can be several ohms which would require replacing the shunts to accommodate the difference. Even in digital meters like modern Fluke VOM's, the fuses can cause all kinds of problems if the original factory fuse is not put in. Using a common off the shelf meter fuse of the same current rating can leave the meter out of spec. Even if it is a "meter fuse".
EEV Blog actually did a couple of videos about the issues with Fuses in voltmeters. He shows that meter fuses vary greatly in resistance. While Dave's voice gets to some folks, he has a lot of good info in some of his videos. Thanks for watching and thanks for the insightful comments. Love this kind of feedback. Keeps me on my toes. Vern
Greetings:
I did not hear specifically, but I believe that you wanted this meter to be a part of the education for a young newbie technician. Being a retired service tech myself, I do remember the slow exposure to electronics I had. I think I will find VTVM that needs a good home. (Don't mind if I add a digital display to it. I want the high tube impedance.)
Just got one of these today. Batteries were missing. My question is where does the negative of the 3 D cells connect to? I have the blue and white leads there for the C cell and an extra white lead . The positive lead on mine is yellow going to the battery pot. Is the extra white lead on the bottom for the D cell negative? Thanks.
Sorry, I passed that meter on years ago. Wish I could help.
you should make a video on the tools that ya use /need to have to start with when it comes to working in the electronics field, i was an auto body man / painter for about 14 or 15 years (im only 32 now, so its about all i know)and found out a few years ago ive got chrones desease and have totally had to give it up, and im about to get rid of some of my tools,and trying to figure out what to sell and what to keep, and what i should consider on buying
Hi Matt, thanks for watching. I did mention in one of the voltmeter videos that the main and most important tool in the electronics tech's tool bag is the voltmeter. This is why we started with voltmeters. Next would be a soldering iron, but I have covered that a while back. When I have all the gear up and working I can do a video simply outlining what is important in priority. I have not focused on scopes because most work can be done without them and they are more expensive than most instruments. ( not much more but kids have a limited budget.) Time is my big issue. My day starts at 5 and ends at 6 ( drive to work, work, drive home ) come home, eat, and now it's 7 pm and I start making videos. One video can take two evenings. Even a 10 minute video can take 2 hours to set up, edit, publish. So time is a big issue. Meanwhile I am fixing all the gear in the background. What you see on the video is the brief edit of the work. However I think your idea is a good one and will be added in at some point. Thanks for taking the time to offer some feed back. It helps my thought process to get ideas from the viewers.
Enjoyed the video. That meter was an excellent find. I have one criticism though: using E in your formula the way we did in the 1960’s might be confusing because the kids and newer books on basic electronics just use V. So instead of E=IR, V=IR.
But I'll confuse the old farts...... :-)
I think it's great that you're interested in helping out the young ones. I'd be happy to do that near where I live, but not sure about how to find them. (I've done tutoring and mentoring in many school subjects for years and used to give training classes at work.)
Ever considered doing an Electronics For Kids channel? Short and sweet, one idea at a time.
Thanks for watching and the nice comments. Wish I had found someone at 14 to show me a few tricks. Had to figure them out one painful lesson at a time. And yes, have been thinking about short/sweet clips. First wanted to get the bench set up and show the young players that useful test gear is actually within reach with a little 'shopping". Have some Ideas for when the gear is all fixed and on the bench. ( I have a real bench but want to prove the flea market items will actually do the job ) Working on getting the transistor radio in breadboard configuration.
This way I can do short videos on how the sections work and experiments within the circuit. Thanks Again.
I just picked up the exact same meter. Can you tell me what the calibration pots in the back are labeled. Mine are not labeled. Thanks. Don
Hi Don, Just getting around to catching up on comments. Sorry for the Delay. Looking at the back the top pot is Battery Cal. Put the meter in Battery and set the pot so the needle falls in the center of the little green line. Bottom row left to right +DC, -DC, AC, UA
Nice find and an excellent video! Is the DeVry meter essentially a solid state version of a high impedance VTVM (with added current reading capability)?
Hello and thanks for watching. And yes basically a transistorized VTVM. Works pretty well.
Looking good wish I could find one